Freeze Frame Archiv

Audiences always say they want something different from Hollywood. “Searching,” a tense thriller with a unique gimmick, fills the bill. All of the action takes place on a computer screen. John Cho and Debra Messing star in the story of a father who uses the internet to frantically search for his missing daughter. The story is involving, so the gimmick works. “Kin” is an action drama mashup of sci-fi, family disfunction and road movie themes. Newcomer Miles Truitt is an appealing teen hero who is pursued by numerous folks after finding an alien ray gun. “Kin” almost works, but the filmmakers throw so many ideas against the wall that too few of them stick. “The Bookshop,” based on Penelope Fitzgerald’s novel, tells the low-key story of a widow, played by Emily Mortimer, who opens a bookshop in a small English village in the 1950s. She’s opposed by the local village matriarch, played by Patricia Clarkson who wants the site for an arts center. Although it generates some gentle charm, the film’s deliberate pace works against it. Domhnall Gleeson and Ruth Wilson star in “The Little Stranger,” a meandering and slow-moving ghost story filled with characters that are very hard to…

Some foul-mouthed puppets behaving in degenerate ways provide the gimmick in the one-joke movie, “The Happytime Murders.” Jim Henson’s son, Brian Henson, takes his puppetry skills into the R-rated realm with this raunchy and vulgar comedy. Melissa McCarthy plays a police detective who reunites with her former puppet partner to find a serial killer targeting stars from a 1980s TV puppet show. The shock value quickly wears thin in what is basically an overextended TV sketch. “The Happytime Murders” is under-stuffed. The prison escape adventure “Papillon” is based on the bestselling autobiography and the classic 1973 movie version that starred Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. Charlie Hunnam plays a French safecracker who is sent to Devil’s Island on a trumped-up murder charge. He befriends a forger, played by Rami Malek, who comes to depend on him. This sweeping and harrowing story is well produced and skillfully acted and vividly portrays the brutality of the old French colonial system. For those unfamiliar with the original, it’s a workmanlike, if uninspired survival story. “Puzzle” is an extremely low-key romance about a repressed housewife, played by Kelly Macdonald, who breaks out of her rut by exploiting her jigsaw puzzle skills. She meets and…

You’ve seen it all before, but not like this and not with this cast and not at this locale. “Crazy Rich Asians” is a very likable Cinderella story, a romantic comedy that seems fresh due to its engaging all-Asian cast, feel-good vibe and amusing script. It’s a sweet wish-fulfillment fantasy, the positive Ying to “Fifty Shades of Grey’s” negative Yang.   “Alpha” is a visually spectacular pre-history epic from writer-director Albert Hughes. Kodi Smit-McPhee plays a young hunter who becomes the first to develop a cooperative relationship with man’s best friend. It’s a family-friendly survival saga.   Mark Wahlberg stars in the ultra-violent and morally ambiguous action-adventure, “Mile 22.” Wahlberg plays the leader of a CIA special ops team that must make a dangerous 22-mile trek through an East Asian city to help a valuable prisoner escape. In spite of some well-staged action sequences, this noisy thiller ultimately outfoxes itself.   “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” is about a lesbian teen, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, who is forced by family to attend a Christian conversion therapy camp. Although the cast is fine, Moretz’s character is just too enigmatic and unfocused.   “Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood” profiles…

If it weren’t true, you might not believe it. “BlacKkKlansman” tells the remarkable true story of a black Colorado police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s. Director Spike Lee, who co-wrote the screenplay with KU professor Kevin Willmott, recharges his career with a film that is funny, incendiary, thought-provoking, unnerving and oh-so relevant in contemporary America. John David Washington plays detective Ron Stallworth and Adam Driver is the Jewish officer who provided his face when confronting the Klan in person. It doesn’t all work, but “BlacKkKlansman” is a powerful, dynamic and timely Spike Lee joint.   Couldn’t get enough of Shark Week? Well, Jason Statham is here for you. “The Meg” is a goofy thriller about a 75-foot prehistoric megalodon that terrorizes a scientific crew when it is inadvertently released from its deep-sea trench. This by-the-numbers aquatic adventure is no “Jaws,” but is B-movie Saturday matinee fare that may appeal to the 7-year-old in you.   Maybe the best thing you can say about the family-friendly canine comedy “Dog Days” is that it’s harmless. Vanessa Hudgens and Adam Pally lead a likable cast in the story of some LA folks whose paths cross due to their…

Disney continues its strategy of making so-called live-action films featuring characters from its animated classics. Ewan McGregor plays the troubled “Christopher Robin,” a grown-up who has lost touch with the magic of childhood. Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood step into the real world to help him reconnect with his family and rediscover joy. Although beautifully produced and sweetly sentimental, “Christopher Robin” is extremely low-key and maybe too long and slowly paced for many kids.  “The Darkest Minds” is the latest in a parade of dystopian, sci-fi dramas aimed at teens. After an outbreak of childhood disease, the surviving kids develop extrasensory powers and must flee frightened authorities. A likable cast tries hard, but there’s not a moment in this movie that doesn’t seem derivative. Believe me, you’ve seen it all before. A much more satisfying movie about teen life is “Eighth Grade,” a poignant and extremely realistic look at the angst of adolescence from writer/director Bo Burnham. Elsie Fisher plays Kayla, a painfully shy girl who makes internet videos full of helpful advice. If only she listened to her own counsel. Fisher is terrific as Kayla and Josh Hamilton is equally good…

At age 56, it may seem impossible for Tom Cruise to do his own stunts, pilot doomed helicopters, run his own cameras and lead high-speed motorcycle chases. But he and his co-stars do all this and more in the sixth entry in the breathless action franchise, “Mission: Impossible – Fallout.” Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must attain three nuclear warheads from powerful and skilled anarchists before the terrorist group kills millions. Henry “Superman” Cavill joins the team as an intrusive CIA operative who authorities force on the crew. Plot-wise, it’s goofy, convoluted and, yes, impossible. But there’s enough explosive action and spectacle in “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” to please demanding and undemanding fans alike. Joaquin Phoenix gives a powerful performance as famed paraplegic cartoonist John Callahan in “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot.” This irreverent and sharply acted biopic concentrates not on Callahan’s work or the controversial subject matter of his cartoons, which often poked fun at people with disabilities. Instead, writer-director Gus Van Sant focuses on Callahan’s recovery from alcoholism and his struggle with a number of emotional demons. The rock-solid supporting cast includes Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, Jack Black and Carrie Brownstein. The film’s structure,…

Audiences say they want originality, but do they actually prefer familiarity? If the latter is true, then “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” should catch the fancy of audiences who made the original 2008 Abba musical a box office hit. All of the original cast members are back, joined by a cadre of actors who portray the characters in their earlier years. The flimsy-dual timeline plot doesn’t make sense if you think too hard about it but thinking hard isn’t what this movie is about. Meryl Streep’s role, the best thing about the original, has sadly been reduced to a cameo. But her appearance is still the best thing about this movie. It’s a breezy, cheerful lark with plenty of earworm pop tunes that will invade your brain for days after viewing. “Mama Mia! Here We Go Again” is the cinematic equivalent of a mirror ball; a cheesy, sparkly distraction. Familiarity also abounds in “The Equalizer 2,” Denzel Washington’s first sequel, the follow-up to his 2014 action thriller that was based on the old TV series. Washington plays a former CIA black ops agent who uses his impressive kills to wreak violent revenge on the people who murdered his friend,…

“Die Hard” meets “The Towering Inferno” in “Skyscraper,” Duane “The Rock” Johnson’s third action/adventure special effects extravaganza in the past seven months. Johnson plays a security expert whose family is trapped above the fire line when the world’s tallest building in Hong Kong is torched by a crime syndicate. Can he save his loved ones while battling the elements, the bad guys and the cops? Need you ask? This by-the-numbers thriller delivers just what you’d expect, and that’s probably enough for Johnson’s legion of fans. You’ve got to give writer/director Boots Riley a lot of credit. His film debut “Sorry to Bother You” is an original, audacious work. This comic sci-fi social commentary stars LaKeith Stanfield as an uber-talented telemarketer in the near future who unwittingly uncovers an evil corporation’s massive plot to enslave people. One could argue that this R-rated farce often goes way too far, but “Sorry to Bother You” is smart, funny and observant about the state of racial affairs. Homelessness, PTSD and family dynamics are at the heart of Debra Granik’s low-key drama, “Leave No Trace.” Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie are excellent as a father and daughter who live off the grid. Things get complicated…

In the Marvel Universe, we’ve recently been hit with the dark tragedy of “Avengers: Infinity War” and the comic superhero parody, “Deadpool 2.” In tone, the latest Marvel entry, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” falls somewhere in between. Paul Rudd is back in a light-hearted thriller that has Ant-Man joining forces with The Wasp, played by Evangeline Lilly, in an attempt to save her mother from entrapment in the Quantum realm. It’s brilliantly produced, action-packed and benefits greatly from Rudd’s likeable persona and an easy-going, summer popcorn movie vibe.   In contrast, “Boundaries” is an oddball road trip movie that doesn’t quite live up to its promise. Vera Farmiga plays an eccentric woman who reluctantly agrees to drive her estranged, irascible father, played Christopher Plummer, from Seattle to LA. Turns out, he’s a pot dealer who’s using her as an unwitting mule to haul a load of goods to a Southern Callifornia client. Both of these actors are terrific, but the film is self-consciously quirky and never quite credible.   Also opening this week, “The First Purge” is a prequel to the horror series about the near future where murder is legal one night per year. “A Kid Like Jake” is…

“Sicario: Day of the Soldado” is a sequel to the acclaimed drug war drama from 2015. The follow up is equally grim and cynical, this time adding the element of human trafficking along the southern border to the mix. James Brolin’s amoral federal agent recruits the reluctant Benicio Del Toro to stage a Mexican kidnapping aimed at starting a war between cartels. The screenplay crackles with sharp dialogue, but the violent story takes some turns that stretch credibility to the limit. Still, it’s provocative and edgy. One of the rarest cinematic genres is movies adapted from TV commercials. In the goofy comedy “Uncle Drew” NBA star Kyrie Irving dons old age makeup and takes on some young bloods in a basketball tourney. He’s joined by Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson, Chris Webber and Lisa Leslie, all under a ton of latex. It’s all very gimmicky and predictable, but more entertaining than it has any business being. “Mountain” is an involving documentary that combines stunning visuals, poetic narration and an elegant orchestral score to explore man’s fasciation and obsession with conquering rugged peaks. Filmmaker Jennifer Peedom uses drones and body cameras to capture climbers, bikers, hang gliders, skiers and all…

If you haven’t witnessed the marketing blitz for “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” I hope you get your TV, radio and internet service back soon. The fifth film in the popular series should take in a monstrous haul at the box office but doesn’t quite live up to the quality of the last outing. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and the special effects magicians all return to save the resurrected dinosaurs from a volcanic eruption that threatens to wipe out their island. While certainly watchable and visually spectacular, the Jurassic plot elements may be getting a bit long in the tooth. Was the real Fred Rogers the kindly, affable, empathetic fellow he appeared to be on his long-running PBS kids’ show “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood?” Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville’s documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” shows that indeed he was. The movie focuses on the Presbyterian minister’s back story, his motives and his passion for kind-hearted, morally instructive children’s programming. Even those who weren’t fans of his show may be surprised by just how moving this loving portrait actually is. For those who watched as kids, it’s nostalgia heaven. “American Animals” is an intriguing hybrid movie, part documentary, part dramatic re-enactment. This…

The remake of the classic 70s blaxploitation flick “Superfly” replaces gritty with glossy. Trevor Jackson plays an ultra-smooth Atlanta drug dealer who tries to arrange one last big score and get out of the game. This violent crime drama is slick and competently made but adds nothing new or notable and looks more like a music video than a movie. The score has a few snippets of Curtis Mayfield’s great songs from the original. Low-key charm is not a quality that’s valued much in an age of special effects-heavy blockbusters. But it’s the very thing that propels the comic father-daughter drama “Hearts Beat Loud.” Nick Offerman plays an irresponsible man who wants his daughter, played by Kiersey Clemons, to be in a pop band with him. She wants to go off to medical school. “Hears Beat Loud” is sweet-natured and has an appealing pop score. Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms, Hannibal Buress and a spunky cast seem to be enjoying a vacation with the goofy comedy “Tag.” They play lifelong pals who’ve carried on a game of tag once a month for 26 years. While it’s modestly fun, it never seems credible even though it was based on a…

Flip the script, make the con men con women, but keep the cheeky feel. That seems to be the thought process behind the comic heist spin-off, "Ocean's Eight." Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and a bevy of talented actresses fill the roles but aren't really challenged by the material. Still, they seem to be having fun. Anne Hathaway, doing something of a self-parody as a vacuous actress, has the only meaty role. Jodi Foster and Sterling K. Brown lead an impressive cast in the dark and violent sci-fi crime thriller, “Hotel Artemis.” In a riot-torn near future LA, gunshot victims visit a secret private hospital for criminals only. It’s well produced, but this grindhouse-style entry doesn’t quite nail the electric pace it sorely needs. Filmmaker Paul Schrader examines the twin themes of faith and environmentalism in the thoughtful drama “First Reformed.” Ethan Hawke plays the parish pastor of a 250-year-old New England church who tries to balance his beliefs and his despair when one of his parishioners commits suicide. Hawke is very good, as is the supporting cast that includes Amanda Seyfried and Cedric the Entertainer, and newcomer Van Hansis. Schrader poses probing questions that aren’t easily answered, framed within an…

If you’re planning a boat trip any time soon, you may not want to see “Adrift,” a harrowing true story. Shailene Woodley plays Tami Oldham, a young woman whose sailboat was severely damaged by a storm when she and her boyfriend, played by Sam Claflin, were attempting a trans-Atlantic trip. With little hope of survival, she had to muster some nearly superhuman determination to save herself and her loved one. This traumatic story is well produced and acted, but it’s also agonizing to sit through. You have to admire the tenacity and courage Oldham demonstrated, but if you’re prone to seasickness, you may want to keep an extra popcorn bag handy.  “The Rider” was inspired by another harrowing true story. This ultra-realistic low-budget indie from writer-director Chloé Zhao has won a number of film festival awards. It features a non-professional cast in the tale of a contemporary cowboy. Brady Jandreau plays a slightly fictionalized version of himself, a young bronc rider from South Dakota who endures a near-fatal head injury. He has to do some serious self-examination to determine how to proceed with his life when he realizes he won’t be able to pursue his professional rodeo dreams.  Jandreau is…